COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTIONWhen reading the name “Stone Cali-Belgique IPA”, “Cali” hints that it is a California style IPA, and this brew has an undeniable Belgian influence, indicated by the word “Belgique” (which is how Belgium’s French-speaking population says the word “Belgian”; the Dutch speaking Belgians say “Belgie”). We carefully selected a Belgian yeast strain that illuminates a fascinating new aspect of the beer that is otherwise quite simply Stone IPA.

The result is both completely new and different, while still being recognizable as a Stone Brew – and Stone IPA in particular. Think of it as an otherwise identical twin to Stone IPA that was raised in a Belgian culture. Literally.

Pours a clear golden orange with a white head which thins out to a nice film. Aroma is all fruity belgian yeast, bread dough, and hops. Flavors of sweet malt, honey, bread and yeast, banana/clove, and citrus hops are definitely present as well. It has a very spicy palate with yeast and hops left on the tongue after. Not a big fan of Belgian styles, but this is good.

Golden with medium white head. First smell from the glass is belgian yeast followed quickly by citrus hops. Very enjoyable mix of hops and belgian yeast in the taste. Both flavor profiles balance each other well and neither overpowers. No off flavors. Love it.

22oz bomber. Pours a deep old gold with a slight haze and a thick, egg-white-like head that leaves thick dots of meringue-like lace on the glass. Aroma is very, very hoppy with lots of grass and more subtle aromas of licorice, honey, and doughy yeast. The flavor starts with lots of grassy and very bitter/resiny hops that present subtle hints of pine needles. There is a sweet, gold malt presence, too. The bready and sweet maltiness gives way to soft fruit, light graininess, and floral and spicy hop bitterness at mid-palate. The finish is quite dry, firmly bitter, and spicy/peppery with phenols. The mouthfeel is wonderfully carbonated - lively but not too sharp. The texture is actually full and almost chewy in body once the bubbles are released, despite the very dry finish. Overall, a decent brew - hoppy, sweet, complex, dry. All of the things you look for - but it was somehow less special than others of this style (take your pick of appellation: Belgian IPAs or Ultra-hopped Tripels). Quite good overall, but missing that "je ne sais quois" that would push into being fantastic...

Bottle and served in Duval snifter: Clean deep golden hue with a small but lasting fluffy head and produced excellent lacing lacing upon the glassware. The nose is quite fruity with overtones of apricot and tangerine, some resiny and grassy hop esters, bubblegum and earthy yeast esters, hint of mineral water. The taste is moderately continental bitterness over a layer of sugary sweet malts. Spicy hop and slight alcohol finish. The mouth feel does suffer from the noticeable boozy character IMO. All told a solid enough brew but I was still left wanting more based if anything on reputation.

22oz bottle: poured a clear amber with a medium sized white head. Light bubblegum and hop aroma with more of the same in the flavor. Well balanced mix of hoppy IPA and a Belgian style wit. I really enjoyed this. Well done.

Bomber thanks to Stefanje. Pretty much an awesome looking bottle, probably my favorite stone bottle, anyway. Pours a very pretty reddish gold with dissipating head. Can smell the Belgian from a mile away with a little phenol and nice floral hops and the ocean. Taste is pretty clean, again phenolic with light clove-type notes and some smooth bitterness. I dig the Belgian influenced IPAs that are around, and this is no different. Nice and crisp with a subtle sweetness, clean and a touch tart. Very nice.

20090210 Bomber from Spirits RB. Impossibly clear, golden, the color of ShamWow, and with small, quickly fading white head. Tropical and citrus aromas, kiwi, light biscuit, moderate grape nuts, light cat piss. There’s definitely a Belgian note, but it’s pretty subtle and not quite clear what they’re getting at. On the palate, the Belgian influence is all but buried beneath sharp American hops. Light phenolic and peppery yeast doesn’t come through as much as it seems like it ought to across the meat of the beer, and mild hops mid way get a so so reception as the palate thins. Mostly quenching and clean, with fairly aggressive eff throughout and quick but sharp finishing bitterness, lingering astringency. Not quite what I expected, and the price tag was quite high for a Stone bomber at seven bucks. All tolled, one of my least favorite Stone brews in a while. That said, it’s still drinkable.

Draft at Kern River Brewing. Clear orange with a small off white head. Nose of citrus and piney hops with some cloves and corriander notes. Flavor was hoppy bitterness with some light spiciness. Finish light bitterness.

Style; glass: IPA; tulip
22 fl oz x 6.9% ABV = 151.8 / 60 = 2.53 beers * 150 C = 379.5 calories (est.)
Purchased at: Canal’s Lawrenceville for $7.99
Aroma: sweet, banana and cloves, some citrusy hops, pine, grass.
Visuals: packaging is beautiful, though screen printing always seems to be coming off the bottle. It gives the brand a bit of crumbly marble style, though I wonder if it’s intentional? Perhaps the most brilliant IPA I’ve ever seen, absolutely crystal clear. Like the final scene in THX 1138, it’s that bright sunlight. Golden, pale, transparent, bright white head, sticky fresh Belgian lace. Carbonation is continuous.
Taste: Delicious, sweet, and hoppy. A great blend, very much in the spirit of Chouffe’s Hobblon Dobblen (sp?). Expertly balanced, nice easygoing maltiness, great hops. Perhaps my favorite new session brew.
Palate: Crisp, clean, and refreshing. A dream of fusion of two of my favorite styles. I hope they develop an imperial of this. Starts very sweet, crisp, middle has a bit of a burn and slight roastiness, finish is hops and bitterness with a salty sweet end note. Amazing.
Overall: In terms of lighter brews and more reasonable ABVs, this is a clear winner, and easily my favorite IPA at the moment, and very much a favorite all around, though my top honor still goes to Mikkeller for Black. I’m going to get more, soon. Stone, just keep them coming, and please consider an imperial version of this.
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This is slightly a mess of a beer. Their IPA fermented with a house Belgian Strain. I don’t know where this strain originates, but is weird. The nose smells like bubblegum and cotton candy, with slight citrus from the hops. Mouthfeel is medium to thin, but the flavor tastes a little like soap, bubblegum, oranges and bannana. Really weird phenolics going on in this beer, needs to go back to the lab

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